Seeking Political Change in San Bernardino, Calif., a Group Targets Young Voters

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.—On a recent Sunday afternoon, 18-year-old Janett Hernandez and her friends gathered outside City Hall to play music, paint murals and register voters for Tuesday's municipal election. At tables adorned with balloons and streamers, young people wore T-shirts illustrated with a fist and the words "San Bernardino Generation Now."

The cheerful scene offered a sharp contrast to San Bernardino's bleak political landscape. Over the past 18 months, city officials have faced bankruptcy proceedings,...